Andy Burnham has the green light to stand in the Makerfield by-election. If he can win a seat against the electoral tide, with Reform having made huge gains there weeks ago, he will have the right to be heard. It will not be easy. But the by-election is weeks away and Burnham is not yet even a candidate, let alone a leader. Meanwhile, we cannot afford a government distracted by speculation about who sits in Downing Street. Labour came to power with a mandate to change Britain for the better.